Bonsai Quiz

Have you ever looked at a bonsai tree and thought "What's the big deal?" Turns out, there's a lot that goes into this ancient art form. Nearly any plant, including trees and shrubs, can be used for bonsai. But how do you create and maintain these miniature plants? Test your knowledge and see how much you really know about this unique practice.

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Question 1 of 10

Bonsai is an ancient art that renders nature in miniature form. What is the purpose of bonsai?

to create aesthetic landscaping

to discover and honor nature

Bonsai is a way to discover and pay tribute to nature by blending art and horticulture, accentuating a landscape's exceptional qualities.

to achieve form over function

Question 2 of 10

What does the word "bonsai" mean?

"plant in a tray"

Bonsai literally means "plant in a tray." The name suggests the intricate relationship between the plant and its container.

"small tree"

"miniature countryside"

Question 3 of 10

How can bonsai recreate the essence of natural settings like fields or forests?

by being carefully shaped and pruned over time

Bonsai can recreate the impression of a natural setting when it is carefully shaped and pruned over a period of time.

by being nurtured with organic fertilizer from the natural setting that it imitates

by being grown from hybrid seedlings

Question 4 of 10

What essence does the art form of bonsai capture?

character of the plant within the restrictions of its container

Bonsai is about showing the plant's true character within the confines of the container, not that of the landscape in which it naturally grows.

true spirit of the natural scene inspiring the plant's shape

answers to prayer in an organic lifeform

Question 5 of 10

What are some ways in which bonsai is manipulated?

exposure to heating lamps

frequent repotting

wire shaping and severe root trimming

Wire shaping, root trimming and pruning are done not so much to imitate nature but rather show off nature's special beauty.

Question 6 of 10

Bonsai tends to appeal to what type of people?

plant lovers

dedicated artists

both answers are correct

Because bonsai is a union of horticulture and art, it appeals to both artists and plant lovers alike.

Question 7 of 10

Bonsai is a satisfying and appropriate hobby for whom?

seasoned bonsai enthusiasts

gardening novices

both answers are correct

Bonsai is a nonrestrictive hobby. Anyone is welcome to do it, from newbies to experienced bonsai aficionados.

Question 8 of 10

Where did bonsai originate?

Japan

China

Bonsai is believed to have originated in China, but many of the aesthetic principles observed today were developed by the Japanese.

Nepal

Question 9 of 10

When did the Japanese introduce this unique art form to the Western world?

mid-14th century

early 16th century

late 19th century

The Japanese first popularized this unique art form in the West when they introduced it to Europeans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.